Work on the Forest Lake Area Trail System is underway at Thousand Hills State Park and the group leading the effort to link the park and downtown Kirksville is planning to celebrate with a groundbreaking ceremony next week.

FLATS will hold a groundbreaking ceremony on Oct. 3 at 4 p.m. near the petroglyph site at Thousand Hills State Park. All members of the community and FLATS supporters are invited to attend.

Additionally, FLATS has set a goal to raise $12,500 by the groundbreaking date. Funds will go toward design and construction of Phases II and III.

Workers from the Department of Natural Resources arrived on Sept. 9 and started work on the initial phase, having already constructed 7,000 feet of silt fence to manage storm water pollution, marking the trail itself with posts and clearing areas for construction, said FLATS member Royce Kallerud.

"They are actually doing work out there right now," he said Tuesday morning, adding that concrete work should begin soon.

Phase I will be about .59 miles long, linking the Thousand Hills Dining Lodge with the petroglyph site via an eight-foot-wide ADA-accessible concrete trail.

Phases II and III would complete the four-mile trail and link the park with the city of Kirksville.

FLATS will recognize major donors with a plaque that will be placed at the trail head in Thousand Hills State Park at the groundbreaking.

FLATS has raised more than $275,000 so far through grants, cash and in-kind donations.

The groundbreaking ceremony will include a performance by the Kirksville High School band, presentation of the final Phase I design plans and a chance for everyone to begin digging on the trail route. FLATS encourages anyone who would like to participate to bring a shovel to the event.

For more information, visit www.kvflats.org or email flatskv@gmail.com.